"My Magical Kingdom" by Olivia Steinmetz

I am nine years old and my family would one day like to take me to Disney World. Until then, we travel to our own “Magical Kingdom” – my cabin. Magic Kingdom, in Florida, is one theme park I would like to visit. My cabin, on Lake Francis, in Minnesota, has a theme, too – we call it the “Nut House” and the “Squirrel’s Nest”. I share a bedroom with my little cousin. Our bedroom is a fortress – we painted the walls purple, play dress up with our Barbies, and I read books about princesses and fairytales to her.

I have seen Cinderella’s castle on the computer and in movies; I know there are fireworks, just like at my cabin on the Fourth of July. My family and I go out on our pontoon and watch the fireworks exploding over our house and onto the lake. This year, my grandpa and grandma came to watch them with us.

The wildest ride in the wilderness of Disney World is “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad,” but at my magical kingdom it is tubing on the lake! My wildest ride was last summer – my dad was driving the jet ski while my little brother and I were holding on tightly to the tube. As we were coming around the corner, the wind caught the tube, and we flipped! The water was cold and we were screaming the whole time!

The “Jungle Boat Cruise” at Disney World is just like when my family and I go cruising on our pontoon. Our family looks for fish, turtles, muskrats, ducks, and birds. We fish, jump off into the deep water, and go swimming together!

Snow White adventures are part of Disney World. But we have the real “snow white” – we have Minnesota SNOW! I love to make snow forts, build snowmen, and be pulled by the snowmobile on the sled. Friends like to come to my magical kingdom in the winter because we ice skate, drink hot chocolate, and have family movie nights.

Shooting stars and galaxies are on the ride “Space Mountain” at Disney World. I have my own shooting stars at my magical kingdom in the sky. At night, my family builds a bonfire and we roast marshmallows and s’mores while watching the stars.

People at Disney World may see Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Chip and Dale – but I have the real ones! I have real mice that like to sneak into my magical kingdom when it gets cold outside. I have real ducks that swim in my lake. I have real chipmunks that skitter around on our sidewalk, in our bushes, and even sit on top of our grill and eat the leftover grilled food!

My mom and dad have told me, “One day, yes, we will get to Magic Kindgom,” but until then, my magical kingdom is my lake cabin.